Open AccessOvarian ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilisation treated by laparoscopic excision with ovarian preservation
Author(s) -
Kelly Ribeiro,
Tarek El Shamy,
Tariq Miskry
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2020-236680
Subject(s) - medicine , ectopic pregnancy , gestational sac , ovarian pregnancy , adnexal mass , histopathology , laparoscopy , ovary , cyst , pregnancy , in vitro fertilisation , luteal phase , gynecology , ovarian cyst , endometriosis , obstetrics , surgery , pathology , follicular phase , biology , genetics
A 42-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain and fainting episodes 36 days after in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed a large amount of free fluid in the pouch of Douglas and no evidence of an intrauterine gestational sac or adnexal mass suggestive of ectopic pregnancy. A presumed haemorrhagic corpus luteal cyst was seen in the left ovary. Laparoscopic exploration revealed a left ovarian haemorrhagic mass, which was excised with preservation of the ovary. Histopathological examination confirmed an ovarian ectopic pregnancy (OEP). OEP is rare but potentially life-threatening, as it can lead to internal haemorrhage. Its diagnosis is challenging as preoperative and intraoperative findings can be evocative of the far more frequent haemorrhagic corpus luteal cyst and histopathology is often necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Early recognition of OEP is crucial to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, and allow treatment that preserves fertility as much as possible.